Knockdown barrel.



s'ra rns man I DANIEL R. PRUDEN, OF REVERE, AND DANIEL W. VVORMWGGD, OF CHELSEA,

- MASSACHUSETTS.

KNOGKDONN BARREL.

' Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Applicationfiled March 28,- 1911. 3 serial no. 617,358.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, DANIEL R. PRUDEN,

I of Revere, in the county of Suffolk, andstaveswith suitable heads and fastenings, it

isdestitute of the usual bilge so that itsarea at each end is the same as at the center, thus giving greater capacity to a railroad car, filledwith such barrels. Furthermore the hoops are not removed or the head mutilated when our improved'barrel' is opened,- a'feature of much importance in a collapsible barrel. We provide also a peculiar closure and sample opening on one of the heads for inspection of the contents of the barrel, and means for tightening the fastenings after it is fully packed. The staves are transversely connected by flexible bands-having terminal fastenings, and, as here shown, are arranged in successive sections united by hinges in the bands at the folding points, the terminal section edges only having such fastenings.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2, a vertical section and Fig. 3 an end view. Fig. 4 is a top or side and Fig. 5 an end view of the barrel folded inside out. Figs. 6 and 7 represent details hereinafter explained.

As best seen in Figsnl and 3, the staves 10 are severally secured in position, at their ends and intermedia-tely, by flexible bands 11, preferably of galvanized iron or steel, se cured to each stave by a short wire nail or staple. The edges of the staves converge toward the axis of the barrel, see Fig. 3 where they are seen held by the hoop or band 11 in close lateral contact, forming two complete arches. Figs. 1, 3 and 5 also show, at 12, the adjustable fastening devices, for engaging and disengaging the ends of the bands .to bring the edges of the terminal staves into 2 and 4t.

leased the entire serles of staves connected more speedily packed. ,Our invention, however, also contemplates folding each barrel complete. by itself. To

contact. In the construction shown the band ends are bent'outwardly or furnished wlth termlnal catches, one adapted to hold a screw nut from rotation while the opposing member is perforated to receive loosely the threaded stem of a screw bolt engaging said nut and adapted to be tightened and loosened by a screw driver or other tool. Any equivalent device which will draw andhold the terminal staves closely together and permit ready detachment'may be substituted. When the upper two or three fastenings are disengaged the upper barrel head may be detached andthe contents removed; The beveled edges of the barrel heads 13 enter the transverse grooves 1% formed for them across the inner faces of the staves, see Figs.

When all the fastenings are reby the bands may open out and lie flat on the floor, adoZcn ormore of them superposed occupying but little space vertically, the heads making a separate compact package or being crated with them. Beside saving the cost of hinges this knock-down form is best adapted for large shipments, being this end wearrange the staves in a plurality of foldable sections, each band being hinged at the folding line sothat the staves of that section can fold outwardly and flat against or in near contact with the adjacent section,

as best shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 3 illustrates also the preferred arrangement, the 1 hinges 15 connecting the live sections, one midway section (which we term the back or base 16) consisting of a single stave and the length of bands which span it. The object of this back or base is to afford space, between the sections hinged to the back, for the terminal sections to fold inwardly and also for the barrel heads 13. Dotted lines in Fig. 4 indicate an oblique position of the semi-circular head parts, so placed as not to project beyond the connected staves. When these staves are arranged in three sections, besides the back 16, even circular heads would be completely inclosed and the package reduced in thickness. The back may be omitted and but a single row of hinges employed, the two sections folding flat, back to back, and the heads being external thereto. When two barrels somade are packed together the four heads, preferably placed cornerwise, may be inclosed between the two rectangular bodies of connected staves, transversely arranged, the two occupying less than twice the space for one.

The hinges 15, best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, are'preferably formed of elongated wire' rings through which pass loops formed at the ends of each section of the bands 11,

their inward ends being drawn closely around the wire and preferably riveted.

.Only sufficient looseness for the folding movement is allowed. Other forms ofhinges, suitably. secured to said bandsmay be employed, as we make no claim to this particular construction.

A'special feature of our invention, illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, is applied to the upper head for convenience in opening and Instead of two semi.-

opening completely. One ofthe hinged.

parts ofthis middle member 17 has, rigidly secured to its top, a locking bar 19 which extends well beyond the hinged pointvand there has effective locking means, here shown as screws 20 through bar 19 and entering part 17. When thus fastened the bar 19 reinforces the hinged member 17 against external or internal pressure, and when re- 7 leased it forms asubstantial lever for re- G'op ies of this patent may be obtained for moving said member upwardly and opening the barrel. 7

When these barrels are designed forshipping coarse articles, such as vegetables or fruit, requiring ventilation, the staves may be spaced somewhat apart and their edges need not converge; but for flour, rice, sugar and the like the construction shown in Fig. 3 should befollowed.

Our barrels being cylindrical and smooth inside, proper paper linings may be formed by one or twocoils cut of proper length from the ordinary wide rolls.

Safety seals of any desired form may be" applied to guard against tampering with the line of fastenings for the flexible bands or with the special closure or sample-opening in the upper head of the barrel.

We claim as our joint invention:

The described improvement. in barrels consisting of a circular-head having three contiguous members all engaged peripherally in the croze of the staves but otherwise unsupported, the middle member being formed of two abutting sections united by an underneath hinge closing by an upward movement, in combination with a locking bar extending along the. top of said middle member, rigidly secured to one section thereof and, beyond the hinge-joint, vprovided with removable fastenings, such bar thus,

when fastened,reinforcing the middle member and when released forming a lever for rel, substantially as setforth.

r removing it upwardly and opening the bar- In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures,-in presence-of two witnesses.

DANIEL R. PRUDEN.

DANIEL W. WORMWOOD.

Witnesses: V

A. H. SPENCER, GIDEoN M. MANSFIELD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi' Patezits, Washington, 11.70. 

